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Student-led · Philadelphia, PA

Cultivating a community of curious minds.

Penn is full of people who see the world differently. We bring them together for fascinating talks, unexpected questions, and conversations that last long after the lecture.

Be part of what’s next See what an evening looks like
A brain in a martini glass, the UPenn on Tap logo

How an evening goes

An evening at UPenn on Tap.

Picture a bar in Philadelphia full of people from every corner of campus, and a professor unpacking something strange and wonderful. Arrive with friends, leave with a few more.

  1. Round I

    Pull up a chair

    Grab a drink, find a seat, meet the people around you.

  2. Round II

    Explore something unexpected

    A Penn professor shares a subject they love, in a talk built for any background.

  3. Round III

    Ask away

    Question everything and follow the discussion wherever it goes.

  4. Round IV

    Keep the conversation going

    Stick around, meet people, and keep talking, professor included.

Pull the tap

Discover something unexpected.

Every gathering starts with a question worth chasing. Pull the tap, or drag its handle, to sample a few. They’re examples, not announced talks.

Astrophysics

What happens when you fall into a black hole?

Gravity stretches you like spaghetti, yet to a friend far away, you seem to freeze at the edge forever.

Suggest a question

Why we’re doing this

Different minds. Shared curiosity.

A physicist and a poet hear the same question differently. Put them at one table and the conversation goes somewhere neither would reach alone.

That’s the community we’re building. The talks spark the conversations; the people make it special.

Six people from different fields, physics, biology, engineering, art, literature and philosophy, connected around one shared question. ? …?!!

Join in

Help this idea grow.

We’re just getting started. The people who show up will shape it.

Students & curious people

Come curious.

Bring friends or come solo. Every gathering is open to any major, background, or field.

Join the list

Professors

Share what fascinates you.

Have a question you could talk about for hours? We’ll build an evening around it and handle the room and the crowd.

Pitch a talk

Bars & venues

Host a gathering.

Have a space for a talk and a curious crowd? Let’s bring UPenn on Tap to you.

Get in touch

Questions

Good questions.

Anything else? Send us a message.

Do I need to know anything about the topic?

Not a thing. Some of the best questions come from outside the field.

Who can come?

Anyone curious: students, faculty, staff, and Philadelphians. Each event lists its age policy, since that depends on the venue.

Do I have to drink?

Not at all. The conversation is the main event, so order whatever you like. If you drink, drink responsibly.

How do I hear about events?

Join the list for speakers, dates, and registration links.

I’m a professor. Can I give a talk?

Yes, please. Send us a pitch: a subject you love and a line on why it would make a great evening.

Who runs UPenn on Tap?

Penn students who wanted more chances to learn something unexpected and meet new people. UPenn on Tap is part of Campus on Tap, which started at Cornell. Come say hi at a gathering.

Just getting started

Be part of what’s next.

Join the list to hear about our first gathering, future speakers, and what’s next.

Gathering No. 001

Our first gathering

When
Coming soon
Where
A bar in Philadelphia, PA
Who
You, and people you haven’t met yet